The Dillon tribune., 1887-09-23
or THE CONSTITUTION

tr,rrss1Ar OF THE oo''
.....,op Brought to " Close With
x.<p,aeent com"emor"t''"'
n. closing day Of the celebration alto ra.', OF the
,.,.,nial ~. Of the adoptio" OF the e'. oons''.
sn's'" - me United States last Saturday
''y 'p'h,.de,phi. was grand climax I"..a. IN the
,.s,,,ing Of one Of Americas e'e''e''
- !" ~. . typical September morning
= md bright. The streets OF the Guy
=, ,h,oneed with people Of all nations
g. . ..,or. d to celebrate the last day Of the
''.nni.l. '. On the stand in Independence
~. there were represented every
s'.. ''sh Of life which goes to make up a ma
~. Side by side were the Chief Magis'
ne highest ecclesiastical representa-.
~. ;.,tices Of the highest law tribunal,
ministers extraordinary Of foreign pow
| y. nations law makers, and represea'
,;,.. Of the army and navy. The stand
,,deoendence Square in the rear Of the
hstorical hall had a seating capacity Of
~, 10000, and had been filled for hours.
y. front of the stand, facing south, an
.,.,re was rallied of for the President
4 his party, the speakers and others.
,,e was suspended, so as to be in full
.x, a Photographic copy Of the original
oos,itution. AT the east side Of the stand
nod gaunt, old, high. backed chair, oc.
u,;ed BY George Washington as presid.
. officer Of the Congress which adopted
=, honored and venerated document. At
ri side Of the center Of the stand stood
70 Aaestaffs, the colors on each being
he'd in honor Of the army and navy re.
.eively, as they came up to the stand.
men the President and Mrs. Cleveland
owed their acknowledgements to the n'ul.
1,ude II seemed as though the cheering
ould never die out.
After thousands Of throats were yelled
o,rse, Bishop Potter arose, and, being fol.
wed BY all those who occupied the re.
rived space with uncovered heads, made
!. opening prayer, reading from manu-.
ript. In the great noise and din It was
imply an impossibility for even those near
b to distinguish word.
Hon. John A. Kasson, rs President Of the
Institutional Centennial Commission, af-
ta hymn by the chorus, made the OPEN
be address. He said: "The one object of
bis celebration has been to demonstrate
)nd quicken the reverence and love Of the
american people of all orders for their Ma.
onal Constitution" He eloquently vel.
|omed President Cleveland and the vast
Fsemblage Of notables, American and for.
fgn concluding with the invocation :
May the dawn Of the second Centennial
|ear be celebrated with increased vigor and
bur Union gain strength as the centuries
|oll on. Forever live with the Constitu.
bon and Union"
In his short speech President Cleveland
|old Of the honor and pleasure it was to
Participate in the exercises and paid glow
ing tribute to American citizenship. In
Conclusion the President said: "As We
|0ok down the past century to the origin O
Pur Constitution, as we contemplate it.
(rla's and triumphs, as we cont emplate tl,t
principles upon which It is based have me
National peril and National need, how de
Foutly should we confess with Franklin
[0od governs the affairs of men, and how
solemn should be the reflection that to ou
aands is committed the ark of the people,
covenant and that ours is the duty to shiel<
1 from impious hands. We receive it seal
81 with the tests Of century. 1t has bee,
'ouno sufficient in the past and in all tn
'u'ure years it will be found sufficient i
me American people are true to their sa
cred trust'
"nen the President was in the middle O
."s remarks, the soft, mellow sound Of tn,
'e'' IN the cupalo Of the State House, ,whicl
0Seup'ed the place Of honor on the struc
" s'e wherein reposed that cracked an.
s''e'sa'ned Nv mass Of metal, was heard
l's Liberty Bell rang out the hour, and a
.as' stroke rousing cheer went up from
'owo' When the President retired
,s s's "n'e the applause was still going or
~ .as ,aoFus u broke into a patriotic air an
uo was terrific. Far as the eye coul
w. ~" '''efe was one solid, seething, surg
mass OF humanity, all Of whose throa,
opened in unison.
tae Memorial Grafton was delivered b,